The Messerschmitt Bf 109 Gs operated by the Reich Defence units used camouflage schemes specified in the November 1941 issue of Luftwaffen Dienstvorschrift (L.Dv.) 521/1. The combination of colours for all the Luftwaffe fighter aircraft – the Bf 109 G included – was comprised of RLM 74 Graugrün (Grey-Green), RLM 75 Grauviolett (Grey-Violet) and RLM 76 Lichtblau (Light Blue). The L.Dv. 521/1 instruction also mentioned the RLM 65 Hellblau (Light Blue) as an alternative, but this paint was not applied on Bf 109 G airframes. The two-tone segmented grey covered the upper surfaces of wings, tailplanes and fuselage, whilst the light RLM 76 was sprayed over fuselage and tailfin sides, as well as aircraft undersides. The arrangement of camouflaging colours was further specified by an annex to the factory instruction titled Oberflächenschutzliste 8 Os 109 F und G. Additionally, fuselage sides were toned down with mottling and stippling of RLM 74 Graugrün (Grey-Green), RLM 75 Grauviolett (Grey-Violet) and RLM 02 Grau (Grey). These colours were used jointly or in combinations of two. Occasionally, the RLM 74 Graugrün was replaced by RLM 70 Schwarzgrün (Black-Green), which was also used to paint propeller spinners and blades.On 15th August 1944 all aircraft manufacturers and repair facilities received a document titled Sammelmitteilung No 2, issued by the Oberkommando der Luftwaffe (Luftwaffe High Command), in which they were ordered to discontinue the use of RLM 74 Graugrün. Once the stocks of the RLM 74 were used up, the Bf 109 Gs were to be painted with a new, replacement colour designated RLM 83 Dunkelgrün (Dark Green). It was a dark shade of green, which offered a higher contrast than the previously used RLM 74. The document included Handbuch der Lackierbetriebe (manual for varnish workshops), in which the RLM 74 and RLM 75 paints were identified as Dunkelgrau Grünlich (Dark Grey-Greenish) and Mittelgrau (Medium Grey) respectively. Nevertheless, no proof was ever found that, although differently described, the two colours actually changed.In the late period of war, due to shortages in supplies, a whole array of individual painting schemes emerged. Some aircraft manufactured by the Erla plant had their upper surfaces and sides finished in only one colour, RLM 83 Dunkelgrün or RLM 81 Braunviolett (Brown-Violet). Notably, the batch of RLM 76 Lichtblau, which was produced in early 1945 from substitute components, differed from its original tinge. The paint changed from Grey-Sky Blue to Greenish-Yellow-Blue. The national insignia were painted in RLM 21 Weiß (White) and RLM 22 Schwarz (Black). The crosses on the upper wings and fuselage sides were usually painted in white outline only. The fuselage crosses were often filled in with RLM 74 Graugrün.